Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

These moneys belong to taxpayers. It is right that if taxpayers, through their elected representatives in this House, identify projects on which money is to be spent, this money should be protected for those projects in future years in the event that it cannot be spent in the year in which it is allocated. Funding was switched to other projects, for example, to certain capital works, particularly in the care of the elderly, which were completed last year. I am confident the new expertise acquired by the HSE will make a major impact on ensuring capital projects are completed on time and within budget. Mr. Gilroy has been appointed full-time on a five-year contract and will not act as a consultant.

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